On Monday's Nightly Show, Wilmore said: “I completely understand why some people would be upset about it. It's a very charged word. I get it.”

He also responded directly to a Daily Mail article by Piers Morgan titled: ‘Genocide Of The Brain, The Vile Word That Will Not Die And Why Obama Deserves Better Than To Be Called N***** By Anyone.’

Wilmore said: “Are you saying I called the president a 'n****r'? That's horrible! I would never do that. I believe I said, ‘Yo Barry, you did it, my n***a.' There's a difference.

"Piers, you did not properly conjugate that slur. 'N****r' is what white people use to denigrate, demean and dehumanize black people. And 'n***a' is a term of endearment some black people use between each other, to take back that power.”

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest insisted the president was not offended during a press conference on Monday.

“The president appreciated the spirit of Mr. Wilmore's expressions. Any reading of his comments makes clear he was not using the president as the butt of a joke,” he said.

Stephen Colbert is standing behind his good friend and fellow comedian. Colbert himself was widely criticized after he roasted then-President George W. Bush at the dinner in 2006 .

On The Late Show, Colbert said: “Personally, I thought Larry gave a great speech that did not let the president or the press off the hook and am confident that Larry will receive the ultimate recognition for his work -- never being invited back. You can watch with me next year, Larry!”